Grace walked through the mall, her mind still buzzing with all of the event.. she had made her choice but there was a lingering knot in her chest. She had packed Andrew's things into a spare room, his once shared belongings now separated from hers. She didn't feel relief yet, just the heavy realization of how much her life had changed in such a short time.
As she passed through the aisles, she tried to keep her thoughts focused on the mundane act of shopping. She didn't have the energy to care about much else at that moment—just some new clothes, maybe a distraction for a few hours, and then back to the reality of what she needed to do.
She grabbed a few items from the racks and made her way to the dressing room. But as she stepped inside, the last person she expected to see was standing just outside the door—Sarah.
For a second, Grace froze, her heart skipping a beat. She hadn't thought about running into Sarah, but there she was, looking as smug as ever. Sarah's eyes gleamed with something like amusement as she saw Grace, and she quickly stepped forward, blocking the exit.
"Well, well, look who we have here," Sarah said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Grace, I didn't expect to see you out in public. I thought you'd be hiding in your little house, sulking over the fact that your marriage is over."
Grace didn't flinch. She stepped past Sarah, not willing to let her words sting. "I'm not hiding anywhere, Sarah. I'm just living my life."
Sarah scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Living your life? More like trying to cling to whatever scraps of your dignity you have left. Let's be honest, Grace, you're the one who looks desperate here. I've got everything you wanted. Andrew, the baby, the future. You've got nothing."
Grace's expression hardened, but she stayed calm. "You really are a piece of work, aren't you?" she said, her voice cool and controlled. "It's funny how quickly you've shown your true colors. You're not some misunderstood woman—you're just a woman who's willing to degrade herself for a man who already has a wife."
Sarah's lips twisted into a cruel smile. "I'm degrading myself? You're the one who couldn't even hold onto your own husband. If you ask me, that sounds like you're the one who failed." And also you are the one who decided to leave your marriage because you don't want to share.
Grace leaned in slightly, her eyes narrowing with a sharp edge. "No, Sarah. I didn't fail. I made a choice. A choice that you clearly don't understand. Because, let's face it, you're not the first woman to think she can just waltz into a marriage and take over. But you're nothing more than an opportunist. And if you think Andrew is some prize, you're sorely mistaken."
Sarah's face darkened, the taunting look in her eyes slowly turning to anger. "You think you're so much better than me, don't you?"
Grace shook her head slowly, the corner of her lips lifting in a small, disbelieving smile. "I don't think I'm better than you, Sarah. I know I am. I'm not the one who wants to share my husband with someone else in this era. You should be ashamed of yourself, acting like this is something to be proud of. You've built your life on someone else's misfortune, and now you're parading around like you've won something."
Sarah took a step forward, eyes flashing with rage. "I'm going to enjoy watching you squirm when Andrew chooses me, Grace. You'll never have him back."
Grace held her ground, unfazed. "You can have him, Sarah. You deserve each other. A man who can't even stay faithful and a woman who's willing to fight over scraps. I'm not the one who's desperate for approval or affection. You have Andrew now—enjoy him."
The tension between them was thick, but Grace didn't allow herself to be provoked any further. She wasn't going to let Sarah's insults get under her skin anymore. She wasn't the woman who was afraid to speak her mind, who would cower in the face of cruelty.
"Now, if you'll excuse me," Grace said, turning away with a final look, "I have better things to do than spend my time with a woman who's okay with sharing a man."
Sarah's gaze followed her, eyes burning with anger, but she didn't say anything more. Grace walked past her, her stride confident and steady. She had come here for a reason—to reclaim her peace, not to get caught in petty arguments. But the encounter left her feeling almost like a weight had been lifted. She had stood up to Sarah, not with anger, but with dignity.
Later that evening, after the shopping trip had ended, Grace sat in her car in the parking lot, her phone in her hand. She dialed Daniel's number—the lawyer who had been handling her divorce. It had been days since she'd handed Andrew the papers, and he still hadn't signed them.
"Daniel," she said, her voice firm. "I need you to come to my house tonight and bring the divorce papers again. Andrew didn't sign them. I'll leave them with you so that he can't avoid it any longer. I want the divorce over as soon as possible ."
"I understand," Daniel replied. "I'll be there soon. Don't worry, Grace. We'll get this sorted."
She hung up, feeling a mixture of exhaustion and relief. She had already moved Andrew's things into a separate room, his presence now reduced to a few scattered belongings. The house was hers, and it was time to make sure it stayed that way.
As she drove home, Grace thought about everything that had happened. It wasn't the end yet, but she was getting closer. The more she stood her ground, the clearer it became that she had made the right decision. She wouldn't be anyone's second choice, and she would no longer allow herself to be controlled by anyone's whims.
She was stronger than she had ever known. And soon, her life would be hers again.